--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One consequence, presumably unintended…" description: "\"“One consequence, presumably unintended, of America’s failure to ratify the Kyoto Protocol has been the emergence of a not-quite-grassroots movement. I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8c/elizabeth-kolbert-7570_arnold-schwarzenegge_one-consequence-presumably-unintended-of_2442413.jpg" --- # One consequence, presumably unintended, of America’s… ![“One consequence, presumably unintended, of America’s failure to ratify the Kyoto Protocol has been the emergence of a not-quite-grassroots movement. In February 2005, Greg Nickels, the mayor of Seattle, began to circulate a set of principles that he called the “U.S. Mayors Climate Protection…” quote by Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8c/elizabeth-kolbert-7570_arnold-schwarzenegge_one-consequence-presumably-unintended-of_2442413.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8c/elizabeth-kolbert-7570_arnold-schwarzenegge_one-consequence-presumably-unintended-of_2442413.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8c/elizabeth-kolbert-7570_arnold-schwarzenegge_one-consequence-presumably-unintended-of_2442413.jpg) > ““One consequence, presumably unintended, of America’s failure to ratify the Kyoto Protocol has been the emergence of a not-quite-grassroots movement. In February 2005, Greg Nickels, the mayor of Seattle, began to circulate a set of principles that he called the “U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.” Within four months, more than a hundred and seventy mayors, representing some thirty-six million people, had signed on, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York; Mayor John Hickenlooper of Denver; and Mayor Manuel Diaz of Miami. Signatories agreed to “strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities.” At around the same time, officials from New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Maine announced that they had reached a tentative agreement to freeze power plant emissions from their states at current levels and then begin to cut them. Even Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Hummer collector, joined in; an executive order he signed in June 2005 called on California to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 2000 levels by 2010 and to 1990 levels by 2020. “I say the debate is over,” Schwarzenegger declared right before signing the order.”” [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. U.S. cities and states took climate action despite federal inaction, forming grassroots-like agreements to meet Kyoto targets locally. **In simple terms:** Local leaders acted on climate change when national policy lagged. Key Takeaway Support local climate initiatives. Themes environment policy leadership grassroots government Mood determined optimistic Type policy inspirational When to use this quote - city climate plans - state emissions caps - mayoral coalitions - public policy advocacy Key Concepts climate governance federalism collective action Questions to Reflect On - How can local actions scale nationally? - What barriers do cities face without federal support? A Different Perspective Federal inaction can limit resources and coordination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arnold schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arnold-schwarzenegger/) [Called Mayors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-mayors-498472/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Emissions States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emissions-states-498469/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Kyoto protocol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kyoto-protocol/) [Mayors Representing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mayors-representing-498470/) [Power plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-plant/) [Ratify Kyoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ratify-kyoto-498467/) [Rhode island](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhode-island/) ## Related quotes > [It doesn't matter what is true, it only matters what people believe is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/it-doesn-t-matter-what-is-true-it-only-matters-what-people-believe-is/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [It is becoming increasingly clear that the targets in the Kyoto Protocol cannot and will not be met on the established timetable in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-claussen/it-is-becoming-increasingly-clear-that-the-targets-in-the-kyoto/) [Eileen Claussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-claussen/) > [The total efforts of the last 20 years of climate policy has likely reduced global emissions by less than 1 percent, or about 250…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjorn-lomborg/the-total-efforts-of-the-last-20-years-of-climate-policy-has-likely/) [Bjorn Lomborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjorn-lomborg/) > [Globally, emissions may have to be reduced, the scientists are telling us, by as much as 60% or 70%, with developed countries likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-meacher/globally-emissions-may-have-to-be-reduced-the-scientists-are-telling/) [Michael Meacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-meacher/) > [Ideology on which the Kyoto Protocol is based, is a new form of totalitarian ideology, along with Marxism, Communism and socialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrey-illarionov/ideology-on-which-the-kyoto-protocol-is-based-is-a-new-form-of/) [Andrey Illarionov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrey-illarionov/) > [Three scenarios for post-Kyoto emissions reductions indicate that ... the long-term consequences are small... The influence of the Protocol would, furthermore, be undetectable for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wigley/three-scenarios-for-post-kyoto-emissions-reductions-indicate-that-the/) [Tom Wigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wigley/) > [“There is no doubt that the United States has much to atone for, both domestically and abroad...To produce this horrible confection at home, start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/there-is-no-doubt-that-the-united-states-has-much-to-atone-for-both/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [The seas need their own Kyoto Protocol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enric-sala/the-seas-need-their-own-kyoto-protocol/) [Enric Sala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enric-sala/) > [The challenge now is to renovate the baroque structure that the Kyoto Plan has become—or else scrap it and get ready to start all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/the-challenge-now-is-to-renovate-the-baroque-structure-that-the-kyoto/) [Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/) > [The impact of the Kyoto Protocol on global temperature is quite modest, especially for the first century. The reduction in global mean temperature in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sylvester-jacoby/the-impact-of-the-kyoto-protocol-on-global-temperature-is-quite/) [Henry Sylvester Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sylvester-jacoby/) > [We have received no single argument in favour of this document except political pressure. No link has been established between carbon dioxide emissions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrey-illarionov/we-have-received-no-single-argument-in-favour-of-this-document-except/) [Andrey Illarionov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrey-illarionov/) > [I think the deeper truth is that the Kyoto Protocols will not be followed by anyone really and that, in effect, nothing will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/i-think-the-deeper-truth-is-that-the-kyoto-protocols-will-not-be/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [Kyoto is likely to yield far less than the targeted emissions reduction. That failure will most likely be papered over with creative accounting, shifting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sylvester-jacoby/kyoto-is-likely-to-yield-far-less-than-the-targeted-emissions/) [Henry Sylvester Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sylvester-jacoby/) > [Attempts to estimate the impacts of climate change continue to be highly speculative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-nordhaus/attempts-to-estimate-the-impacts-of-climate-change-continue-to-be/) [William Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-nordhaus/) > [On big issues like war in Iraq, but in many other issues they simply must be multilateral. There's no other way around. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-blix/on-big-issues-like-war-in-iraq-but-in-many-other-issues-they-simply/) [Hans Blix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-blix/) ## More by Elizabeth Kolbert > [“The size of the greenhouse forcing is estimated, at this point, to be 2.5 w/m2. A miniature Christmas light gives off about four tenths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/the-size-of-the-greenhouse-forcing-is-estimated-at-this-point-to-be-2/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [You've got to do everything, everything's got to be pointing in the same direction and you've got to really turn this whole economic engine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/you-ve-got-to-do-everything-everything-s-got-to-be-pointing-in-the/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [Well in the scientific there is virtually no debate over certain things. For example, that we are changing the world. Humans are changing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/well-in-the-scientific-there-is-virtually-no-debate-over-certain/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [Humans will eventually become extinct. People treat that as a radical thing to say. But the fossil record shows us that everything eventually becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/humans-will-eventually-become-extinct-people-treat-that-as-a-radical/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [“A sign in the Hall of Biodiversity offers a quote from the Stanford ecologist Paul Ehrlich: IN PUSHING OTHER SPECIES TO EXTINCTION, HUMANITY IS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/a-sign-in-the-hall-of-biodiversity-offers-a-quote-from-the-stanford/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [We have all this Paleolithic art that suggests that our ancestors really venerated animals and that they depended on wild animals to survive -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/we-have-all-this-paleolithic-art-that-suggests-that-our-ancestors/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [“Crutzen wrote up his idea in a short essay, “Geology of Mankind,” that ran in Nature. “It seems appropriate to assign the term ‘Anthropocene’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/crutzen-wrote-up-his-idea-in-a-short-essay-geology-of-mankind-that/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [“Modern humans arrived in Europe around forty thousand years ago, and again and again, the archaeological record shows, as soon as they made their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/modern-humans-arrived-in-europe-around-forty-thousand-years-ago-and/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [It seems that the Neanderthal DNA that modern Europeans and Asians (and also Native Americans and basically all non-African people) are carrying around is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/it-seems-that-the-neanderthal-dna-that-modern-europeans-and-asians/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [What are the Chinese doing, what are we doing, what are - so we need, both the developed world and the developing world, really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/what-are-the-chinese-doing-what-are-we-doing-what-are-so-we-need-both/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [“As the effects of global warming become more and more difficult to ignore, will we react by finally fashioning a global response? Or will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/as-the-effects-of-global-warming-become-more-and-more-difficult-to/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [As best as can be determined, the world is now warmer than it has been at any point in the last two millennia, and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/as-best-as-can-be-determined-the-world-is-now-warmer-than-it-has-been/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [I traveled really to amazing places. I went to the Great Barrier Reef, I went to the Amazon, I went to the Andes, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/i-traveled-really-to-amazing-places-i-went-to-the-great-barrier-reef/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [“At the Biesbosch nature center, I met up with a water-ministry official named Eelke Turkstra. Turkstra runs a program called Ruimte voor de Rivier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/at-the-biesbosch-nature-center-i-met-up-with-a-water-ministry/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [“Darwin’s familiarity with human-caused extinction is also clear from On the Origin of Species. In one of the many passages in which he heaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/darwin-s-familiarity-with-human-caused-extinction-is-also-clear-from/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) [Explore all 90 Elizabeth Kolbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) ## More Arnold schwarzenegger quotes > [Arnold Schwarzenegger looks like a brown condom full of walnuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/arnold-schwarzenegger-looks-like-a-brown-condom-full-of-walnuts/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [How would Elvira run the state of California? Well, there isn't much I could do that is worse than what Arnold Schwarzenegger has done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-peterson/how-would-elvira-run-the-state-of-california-well-there-isn-t-much-i/) [Cassandra Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-peterson/) > [My dream would be to play the villain in a James Bond movie, or opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger. I like everything exaggerated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/udo-kier/my-dream-would-be-to-play-the-villain-in-a-james-bond-movie-or/) [Udo Kier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/udo-kier/) > [I recently read that Arnold Schwarzenegger collects Hummers. Now we know why Maria's face is frozen in that puckered position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-wilkerson/i-recently-read-that-arnold-schwarzenegger-collects-hummers-now-we/) [Brad Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-wilkerson/) > [I'd like to talk to Arnold Schwarzenegger, 'cause I live in California and I just want to see that canned, chemical filled body in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-d-like-to-talk-to-arnold-schwarzenegger-cause-i-live-in-california/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he's running for governor. He's got a great slogan - 'Vote for me, or I'll make 'Kindergarten Cop II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/arnold-schwarzenegger-announced-he-s-running-for-governor-he-s-got-a/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [There's no one in the world close to Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is a phenomenon. He's brilliant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/there-s-no-one-in-the-world-close-to-arnold-schwarzenegger-he-is-a/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [Arnold Schwarzenegger blew away dozens of cops as the Terminator. But I don't hear anybody complaining about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/arnold-schwarzenegger-blew-away-dozens-of-cops-as-the-terminator-but/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [ Arnold Schwarzenegger made his tax returns public, \[and\] now there's a problem about him stretching the truth. Apparently under occupation he put down 'actor.' ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/arnold-schwarzenegger-made-his-tax-returns-public-and-now-there-s-a/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Their steaks are often good, but the lobsters-with claws the size of Arnold Schwarzenegger's forearms-are as glazed and tough as most of the customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-s-forbes/their-steaks-are-often-good-but-the-lobsters-with-claws-the-size-of/) [Malcolm S Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-s-forbes/) > [Arnold Schwarzenegger is in trouble after tapes surfaced of him saying negative things about other Republicans. Actually the Schwarzenegger tapes surfaced last year, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/arnold-schwarzenegger-is-in-trouble-after-tapes-surfaced-of-him/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Simon had drawn three pictures. In the top left corner, like a salutation, was a ghost. The middle had a big sketch of Arnold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/simon-had-drawn-three-pictures-in-the-top-left-corner-like-a/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [There's no one in the world close to Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is a phenomenon. He's brilliant. Just because his physique belies that, don't underestimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/there-s-no-one-in-the-world-close-to-arnold-schwarzenegger-he-is-a-2/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [People here in Los Angeles are disgusted now about a sex scandal involving Arnold Schwarzenegger. Apparently for seven years, he carried on a sexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/people-here-in-los-angeles-are-disgusted-now-about-a-sex-scandal/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) > [What's it like being opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger? For me? Are you kidding? Maybe if I'm lucky, come up to his navel!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-hunt/what-s-it-like-being-opposite-arnold-schwarzenegger-for-me-are-you/) [Linda Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-hunt/) [Browse all 142 Arnold schwarzenegger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arnold-schwarzenegger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“One consequence, presumably unintended, of America’s failure to ratify the Kyoto Protocol has been the emergence of a not-quite-grassroots movement. In February 2005, Greg Nickels, the mayor of Seattle, began to circulate a set of principles that he called the “U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.” Within four months, more than a hundred and seventy mayors, representing some thirty-six million people, had signed on, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York; Mayor John Hickenlooper of Denver; and Mayor Manuel Diaz of Miami. Signatories agreed to “strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities.” At around the same time, officials from New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Maine announced that they had reached a tentative agreement to freeze power plant emissions from their states at current levels and then begin to cut them. Even Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Hummer collector, joined in; an executive order he signed in June 2005 called on California to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 2000 levels by 2010 and to 1990 levels by 2020. “I say the debate is over,” Schwarzenegger declared right before signing the order.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elizabeth Kolbert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/one-consequence-presumably-unintended-of-america-s-failure-to-ratify/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arnold schwarzenegger" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/one-consequence-presumably-unintended-of-america-s-failure-to-ratify/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8c/elizabeth-kolbert-7570_arnold-schwarzenegge_one-consequence-presumably-unintended-of_2442413.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8c/elizabeth-kolbert-7570_arnold-schwarzenegge_one-consequence-presumably-unintended-of_2442413.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8c/elizabeth-kolbert-7570_arnold-schwarzenegge_one-consequence-presumably-unintended-of_2442413.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One consequence, presumably unintended, of America’s failure to ratify the Kyoto Protocol has been the…” — Elizabeth Kolbert", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Elizabeth Kolbert", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“One consequence, presumably unintended, of America’s...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/one-consequence-presumably-unintended-of-america-s-failure-to-ratify/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/one-consequence-presumably-unintended-of-america-s-failure-to-ratify/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```